12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

goodoleboy · Apr 5, 2005

12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

I posted last week about water options for my place that does not have a water tap. I figured I could get some 55 gallon drums and then hookup a 12v sprayer pump (1.8 gpm) just like those on a 25 gallon sprayer.
My question is does the pump need the drum "sealed" to create pressure or can i just stick the suction tube down the barrel with the pump sitting next to the barrel and get the water out?

Bob_Skurka · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

The tank does not need to be sealed, the pump will have an infeed hose that you run down to the bottom of the tank.

ByronBob · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

Is this for a camp? You could do a gravity type system.

GRUMPA · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

On the one we used for water on our travel trailer all we did was ran a piece of pipe thru the bung on top and hooked it up to the pump. The pump just sucked the water up without a problem. Just hook the pump as close as you can to the water source because the further away it is the harder it has to work.

JerryG · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

Just stick the hose in and turn the pump on.

Dozernut · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

You don't want to seal the barrel tight as it will need a vent for the pump to work properly. Try sucking water out of a plastic bottle without stopping. The sides of the bottle will colllapse and it will be difficult to get the water out. You will burn the motor up on the pump unless you vent the drum.

db2 · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

I use a 12V pump to move water from a 125 gallon water tank. I have a valve at the tank opening.....short hose to the pump......then the long hose from the pump. Keep the pump below the water level. My tank is plastic and certified as a food grade potable fluid tank(and is vented). Potable designation is important if you are going to consume the water. My system works great.

TBAR · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

I have gravity feed water from a 300 gal vertical plastic water tank to my weekend cabin. When it needs to be refilled I have an identical 300 gal tank that I load up in the trailer and get refilled at the neighbors house. Then I bring it back and pump the water via an electric pump into the tank on an elevated stand. The tank is vented at the top and plumbed out the bottom.

Tbar

California · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

Tbar,

I chuckle every time I look at your ranch pictures. In the first one its clear the cows are gathering to say "We're sure glad you came back to take us out of this Godforsaken place!"

California · Apr 5, 2005

Re: 12v water pump to 55 gallon drum

goodoleboy,

I think the sprayer pump you are looking at may really be a re-labelled RV pump. A little research on that might assure that you get one intended for potable water.